Great Lakes Naval Base Commander to Headline Veterans Day of Appreciation Rally at Union Station on Monday

Commander of Great Lakes Naval Base, Rear Admiral David Steindl, will keynote the annual “Veterans Day of Appreciation” press conference and rally today, Mon., Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. in the Great Hall of Union Station, 210 S. Canal, Chicago.

This annual Veterans Day of Appreciation event is hosted by Fifth Third Bank Chicago. The bank transforms the Great Hall of Union Station into a patriotic celebration for those serving in the military. Employees volunteer the day assembling 1,000 care packages that will be sent to troops in Afghanistan. The public is invited to come and write notes of support that will be enclosed in the care packages. In addition, several veterans’ organizations will be on hand showcasing their missions. Among the organizations on hand include Pritzker Military Museum, Folds of Honor Foundation, Heart of a Marine Foundation, and War Dogs Making it Home.

RALLY SCHEDULE:

Color Guard & Drum Line: Bowen High School Army ROTC and East Aurora High School ROTC

Star Spangled Banner: Sung by American Idol contestant, Gina Glocksen

Opening remarks: Robert A. Sullivan, President & CEO, Fifth Third Bank

Rear Admiral David F. Steindl, Great Lakes Naval Base

Special presentation #1: “War Dogs Making it Home” founders Elana Morgan and Rocky Roberts will debut Friday, a dog recently rescued from an animal shelter who will now become trained as a certified service dog and paired with veteran suffering from PTSD.

Special Presentation #2: Fifth Third Bank will present a $100,000 check to Major Ed Pulido, VP, Folds of Honor Foundation to fund educational scholarships of local families of soldiers wounded or lost in the line of duty.

Photo-op/Finale: Hundreds of volunteers will form a human chain that will carry/move the 1,000 care packages out of Union Station and into the waiting arms, carts and trucks

For more information, visit www.53VETS.com

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